YOUR CART

Getting hype for AGT

America’s Got Talent is heading into its eleventh season and has a big surprise change.Written by: Hayley GuzzoMay 11, 2016

Summer is rolling in quite fast and what that means is another season of “America’s Got Talent” is on its way to your television screens. The show is heading into its eleventh season on NBC and there are high expectations. Last year, season ten ended with a total of 9.5 million viewers which is the highest it has ever been. However, the loads of talent is not all that this year’s viewers will be looking forward to. The anticipation comes from the people who will be judging the talent as well. Over the years, the show has changed its judges many times. Past judges include Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and Howard Stern. Howard Stern is the latest “America’s Got Talent” judge who retired from the show after last season ended, leaving after appearing on the show for four seasons. In addition to radio star Howard Stern stepping away from the judges panel, the show has gained a new judge who is sure to bring the heat to the NBC hit. Singing show lovers have grown a love-hate relationship with Simon Cowell, who was a judge on the hit FOX series “American Idol” for 10 seasons before leaving. Cowell will now renew his role as a famous judge on “America’s Got Talent” this upcoming season. He is sure to entertain with his “words of wisdom.” Other than Simon Cowell joining the crew, Nick Cannon will be returning as the host as well as comedian Howie Mandel, former Spice Girls Singer, Mel B, and model Heidi Klum who will be judging alongside Cowell. Every season, the talent the show has to offer, excites fans everywhere. Unlike shows including “The Voice” and “American Idol,” “America’s Got Talent” offers more than just singers the opportunity to show off their abilities on stage. Acts vary from comedians to ventriloquists, and even a professional regurgitator. “There are so many talented people that get recognized through that show,” said Cesar Corvera, sophomore. Last season, Paul Zerdin, a ventriloquist from London took home the one million dollar prize. He seemed to wow the audience and the judges every time he took the stage. The runner-up was comedian Drew Lynch, who has a stutter from a softball accident in 2011 and made the audience laugh every time he opened his mouth. “I definitely prefer to be surprised when it comes to the acts. If people just go up on stage and do something random, I think it is always more interesting,” said Corvera. For the past ten years, AGT has been the most watched summertime reality show. Aside from all the different talents that appear on the show, there is also a wide variety of age groups that can audition as well. From a five year old magician, to a ninety year old piano player, the show gives performers of all ages to show off their talents. For the live audience and the audiences at home, the excitement rises season after season as they hope to be entertained by the loads of talent that comes through each year. Some of the viewers love all of the acts and like to be surprised. However, some only watch it for the acts that they feel would be entertaining. “I like watching the singers and dancers,” said Jasmine Dowell, sophomore. Others who watch the show only watch it because there is nothing else on. Most TV show lovers know that most of the hit series come on during the fall and winter. That is one of the reasons why AGT has become the number one summer series. “America’s Got Talent”, season eleven will premiere on May 31 at 8p.m. on NBC. Like always, it is sure to amaze.

The first school dress code, intended to ban clothing in protest against the Vietnam War, was placed by the Supreme Court in 1969. Today, the dress code is used to ban shoulders, thighs, and confidence. With the fashion industry creating teen trends that slowly climb up the thighs and fall off the shoulders, schools have been enforcing a more strict dress code. Females showing shoulders, or sometimes even collarbones, can be labeled as a distraction in the classroom. Most students tend to disagree with these assumptions that showing skin is a learning disruption. “As a male, I do not get distracted by a girl’s attire in the classroom,” said Mikey Mele, senior at Freedom High School. Young women are tired of the stereotype that men are constantly distracted by their clothing choices. Students are kept to a code of ‘common decency’ as stated in the Freedom High School student handbook. “Students are not permitted to wear revealing clothing which offend the sense of common decency, as judged by those entrusted with providing a positive school environment,” states the code. Freedom High has a large unique student body,; thus, one person cannot create a “norm” for everyone. Every single student has a different taste, style, and mindset. If someone is distracted by a shoulder, it is not the fault of the clothing choice; it is the fault of the mindset. “I think it’s empowering for women to be able to dress freely and not worry if their shoulder should be a distraction,” said McKenzie Eisenreich, sophomore. On the side of fashion, industries create clothes in which people feel comfortable and confident. Schools tend to strip this confidence of their students when they label their skin as a disturbance to others. Young women should be able to feel great in their own clothes, and be able to have a positive learning experience. Although schools wish to create a “positive school environment,” shaming bodies places a negative mindset upon the students. “If common decency is reprimanding girls for showing their shoulders, then a male wearing a tank top to school should be reprimanded as well,” said Mele. Schools are creating the mindset that ruins confidence, instead of empowering women for their sense of style and individuality. There is not a common decency among thousands of students, each individually unique.

Does buying products mean breaking the bank?

Is there really a reason to spend more money on makeup?Written by: Juliana Maffea, Freedom ForumMay 9, 2016 Splurging on the newest Kylie Lip Kit can create a dent in your wallet, but is makeup really worth the money? Some people prefer to spend more money on high end makeup, rather than drugstore makeup. This is because spending more money means better quality, right? Not really. “I definitely think with high end makeup, you get your money's worth with a majority of products,” said Ally Berndt, senior and certified aesthetician. Some products are worth the money while others are not. It all depends on the person who is buying them. For example, if having a flawless face is the goal, then gravitating towards a high end foundation would be best because not all drugstore foundations ensure the best coverage. Other times, a foundation from Target may do the trick. “No, it is not worth it. You can go to a different store, like CVS, and get more for less,” said Assatta Dwyer, sophomore. If someone is unable to spend a ridiculous amount of money on makeup, but she wants to try out higher end brands, there is the option of subscription boxes that will send different types of makeup to try out. “I think that if you are a beginner, definitely start at drugstore,” said Berndt. There are many websites or videos on YouTube that have people trying out and reviewing different products. Also, there are products called “dupes.” Dupes are basically the same products, but at different prices. “I do not really think so because you can go to other stores to get more for less,” said Dwyer. Going to a store like Sephora or Ulta can be a little overwhelming, but it gets better the more you know about the products. Ulta is more of a mix of high end and drugstore products, but Sephora has mostly high end. The workers there are all willing to give out samples because let’s face it, who wants to spend $40 on an item that may not even work? “Yeah, I splurge sometimes, and there is a lot of high end products I restock on,” said Berndt. Overall, makeup is all about the person who is wearing it. Some makeup is worth the money, but it is all about how one feels with it on. If someone feels good about themselves because they are wearing Dior, then wear Dior. If someone feels content about themselves when wearing Maybelline, then wear Maybelline. “I actually use LA Colors, their colors are really vibrant,” said Dwyer.

Sephora table where you can get your makeup done.
Photo by: Juliana Maffea

The Laura Mercier counter at Sephora
Photo by: Juliana Maffea

Will Donald Trump be “trumped” by Ted Cruz?

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump has been leading in the poles as the GOP front-runner for the presidential candidacy. He has the support of the American people, but as for the GOP (Republican) party leaders, he is seriously lacking. Trump, notorious for his impressive deal making abilities, is having much difficulty winning state delegates’ votes. Known for turning campaign speeches into riots and radical outbursts, one could say his campaign varies greatly from the ones before him. Trump supporters are very well known for their violence. Kyle Babcock, a Republican delegate from Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District offered his comment on the state of Trump’s campaign. “It’s unfortunate politics has reached a new low. These type of threats have no place in politics,” said Babcock. His disorganized campaign has been surpassed by Ted Cruz. It seems he is having difficulty with conforming to the delegates rules, which is causing a major blow to his campaign. In a regular trump-like response, he accuses Ted Cruz of stealing delegates and that the system in which they are voting is completely corrupt. Where Trump fails, Cruz continues to gain delegate votes and has even gained the state of Wisconsin for support. What it all boils down to is if Donald Trump will receive all 1,237 votes in order to become the republican candidate, or Cruz can stall his campaign enough until the GOP party convention in July. It is most likely that Cruz will be able to take the second ballad for the convention, which now leaves the GOP candidacy in the air. According to a Washington Post analysis, Cruz is likely to pick up at least 130 more votes, which would result in Trump’s defeat. Cruz expressed his optimistic view to talk show radio host, Glenn Beck. “In Cleveland, I believe we will have an enormous advantage,” said Cruz. For the first time in this election, it seems that Trump can actually be stopped and Ted Cruz can take the stage. Trump accusing the delegates of rigging the competition is just an excuse to stray away from the real reason he isn’t earning the votes he needs: lack of campaign skills. Candidates in previous elections have played by the rules and have successfully or unsuccessfully gained the votes of the delegates by their simple campaign strategy. Here’s an update for you Trump: If you can’t play by the rules, don’t join the game.

​

Ted Cruz
Photo by: Emily Blanse, Creative Commons

Donald Trump
Photo by: Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons

A Day Celebrating Motherhood

In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation that would create Mother’s Day, a day out of every year that honors motherhood and was originally created by Anna Jarvis in 1908. It is celebrated usually the second Sunday of May. The idea arose when Anna’s mother died in 1905. She wanted to create a day that memorized her mother’s life work. Now, about 150 years later, Mother's Day is one of the most celebrated days of the whole year. When we think of Mother’s Day, now in the 21st century, we think of giving our mother a nice breakfast in bed, flowers, a card, and a special gift. As the holiday approaches, gift ideas get harder to figure out. Does she want that purse? Or maybe that new perfume that just came out? Or maybe even something small that she can keep for the rest of the years down the road? Here are some gift ideas for those who need a little inspiration: One idea for Mother’s Day is a Hanging TIllandsia Grow Kit. The kit comes with several items, which include a hanging glass bubble planter, moss, dried lichen, rocks, and even a coupon for a living air plant. The item is found on Terrain for $34.00.

Another great gift idea for Mother’s Day is a Milestone Necklace. Starting at $45.00, these remarkably beautiful pieces of jewelry can brighten any Mother’s Day by showing the birthstone of their children through a unique simplistic style. The website linked above also contains several other great gift ideas as well the Milestone Necklace.

The last item on the list of Mother’s Day gift giving idea is flowers. What mother on Mother’s Day wouldn’t want these magnificent beauties? On Gift.com, there is a very wide variety of several different style flowers that come along with a stunning vase. From roses to tulips, Mother’s Day gift giving ideas just seem to be getting better and better.

​

What is the meaning of prom?

Photo booth pictures from Prom 2015
Photo by: Shauna Smith

The dance that was created in the 19th century Written by: Shauna SmithMay 3, 2016

The idea of prom is that it is the beginning of the end for seniors in high school. It starts off the graduation festivities with dinner and dancing. According to Macmillan Dictionary, prom is “a dance for highschoolstudents, usuallyheld at the end of the year.” The real meaning of prom could mean anything in anyone's opinion, that may be good or bad. In 1894 the word “prom” was used for the first time in the journal of an Amherst College student on his way to a dance at Smith College. It is also a shortened version for “promenade”, which means a formal dance. In the beginning of the 19th century, every graduating university class would have a dance at the end of the school year. Prom is now a part of our culture and is celebrated in high schools as well. There are other countries that carry on this tradition such as United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, France, Italy, India, and South Africa. When asked, a couple of students gave their opinions on prom. There were two different thoughts from different genders. Here’s a thought from a female, “For everyone to feel genuinely pretty.” said Liza Mastronardo, Senior at FHS. Another thought from a male was, “It’s a special night with a special friend.” said Roland Cash, Senior at FHS. Other than prom being a dance, there has to be some meaning behind this, right? This tradition was not made only to have a good time at a dance with the school, but it was also made to teach students some social skills. After high school, students are put out in the real world and without social skills they would be lost. Prom is just another way to talk to people and meet new people. Prom will continue to be a fun tradition that students will look forward to going each junior or senior year.

​

School, sports, or sleep?

A student who fell asleep on her books.
Photo by: https://news.usc.edu/files/2014/11/istock_000037614406large-824x549.jpg

New research is showing that teenage brains are just not ready for school at 7am Written by: Anna Cannavo, Journalism studentMay 3, 2016

A teenage brain is a functioning machine balancing school, sports, clubs, social life, and even a little sleep here and there. Recent statistics show that it is better for schools to start earliest at 8 a.m. and as late as 10 a.m. for a teenager to be 100 percent focused and and awake during school. “A key brain region that matures late is the prefrontal cortex,” said Scholastic, in the article “Teens and Decision Making: What Brain Science Reveals.” This part of the brain, also known as the control center of the body, is what keeps teenagers focused and attentive. However, because it does not fully develop until you are in your early 20’s, teenagers need more sleep to be able to wake up and have a full attention span in regards to school work and focusing. This issue is being put into play when high school students are waking up before 7am and taking difficult, college level classes that require a lot of focus, that students just don’t have at an hour before 8am. It is said in recent statistics by a team of American and British researchers, that students should not be starting their school day before 9 or 10am. If anything, kids under the age of 13 have a better attention span at this time of day and should start school earlier than high school students. “If the workload is so high that students are staying up until midnight or 1am, then that is obviously affecting the average time students go to bed at,” said Mrs. Barbara Glaser, health teacher at Freedom High School. A deciding factor of what time students go to bed is the workload that is thrown at them in their multiple classes that day. The large piles of homework that each student receives is almost to the point of ruining teenagers’ sleep patterns. This is another solid reason to push the start time of school's back, so they can stay caught up on their work and sleep. However, an issue that could result from school time being changed are the extra curricular activities, clubs, and sports after school. They will have to be pushed back farther in the day resulting in teens getting home even later now, and then completing homework even later. Is it worth continuing sports if school is pushed back an hour or two. Or should school stay the same time so teens can continue their after school activities? “Time management is a big part of it. Extra curricular activities should not be pushed aside because of schools starting later because teens need endorphins from exercise whether it keeps you up later or not,” said Glaser. “Extra curricular activities are the real world and let students apply what they are learning in the classroom into reality.”

​

A student’s guide for the best day in high school

Set your alarm for an early chipper morning
Photo by: Alaina Karcher

Advice to get you through a scream-free dayWritten by: Alaina Karcher, Journalism studentMay 2, 2016​ We have all had our fair share of bad school days. You know what I am talking about. The one where you did not have time to comb your hair or brush your teeth, or you could not finish yesterday’s chemistry homework. To avoid all this, let’s start off with a few simple guidelines or quote-on-quote “helpful tips for a scream-free day.” Number one: Do NOT wake up late. The time you awake will have a 50/50 chance of determining what kind of day you will have. Let’s say your family manages to wake you up on time, or for once you get up early (achievement unlocked!). You will have time to take a nice hot shower (not to mention that daily ritual that is called the “shower-time special”), send a large bowl’s-worth of cereal down into the endless pit you call your stomach, and trade out that quick-let’s-go-sweatshirt for a shirt that goes perfectly with your favorite pair of jeans. Don’t you think that you would feel better facing this rather than the horrific “Oh god no; I’ve overslept again!”? Number two: Do NOT forget anything important at home. I am certain that there have been times when you’ve forgotten an assignment or two at home on its due date (refer back to number one, folks!). If you’re like any other student who stresses, you would be panicking once you zipper open that backpack to discover that your history homework from last week is still lying in your room. Calling your parents is a hassle. You’ll have to deal with the “you have to be careful” or the “next time, don’t be so careless” speech; if they even manage to answer their cell-phone that is. Pack your school-bag before you go to bed or be sure to check in the morning that all needed items are present before you exit out the front door. It’ll be a real stress-reliever for you once you know that you have what is needed, thus insuring a stress-free journey to school. Number three: bring an appropriate snack or beverage with you to school. Having something to munch on during class can be beneficial. If you’re hungry, you’ll have something to silence that noisy stomach, and you’ll be able to concentrate better. If you skip lunch, having that snack will be more healthy than going the entire school day without food. Plus, you’ll be able to go without the embarrassment that is produced by a growling stomach. Number four, the grand finale: take a deep breath and go with whatever is thrown your way. It’s not worth throwing a hissy fit over meaningless, meager issues. If this particular subject was unplanned, keep your cool. By maintaining a positive attitude, you will be able to get through your day cheerfully. Remember, your attitude also affects those around you, so by being happy your peers will perhaps will be affected in an affirmative manner as well.

​

Senior Skip Day: the do’s and do not’s

Congratulations class of 2016!
Picture by: Pixabay Creative Commons

How the unofficial holiday originated and how people feel about it Written by; Samantha Carl, Journalism student ​April 29, 2016

What could be a better way to anticipate graduation than missing a day of high school one last time with your closest friends? At some point within the month of May, the senior class will get together and participate in one final celebratory event known as Senior Skip Day, before their final days of being upperclassmen end. So how did the idea of this unofficial holiday come about? During the time of The Great Depression between 1929 and 1939, on the second Tuesday of every month, senior citizens would be seen skipping through the streets and participating in protests as acts of rebellion. Fortunately, The Great Depression is no longer among us, and protests due to our crumbling economy are no longer needed. However,a day to sit back and relax without worries seems like a better present day alternative. “I believe Senior Skip Day is a well deserved day off after four years of hard work,” said Giancarlo Casas Senior. While personal days are acceptable for employees who constantly work, it only seems fair to have one personal day out of the 720 total school days over a four-year period for the seniors who have put in countless time and effort to graduate. “I feel that for some students, it is a legitimate right of passage for the people that have worked hard these last four years,” Miss Anna Marmaros, English teacher. Some schools do have organized student events as a way for the entire class to have one last “hoorah” together. However, if you are a senior and plan on celebrating within your own group of friends, here are some do and do not ideas to celebrate rain or shine. Congratulations class of 2016, enjoy your day off!Do’s: Drive to a local beach or lake, Spend the day at an amusement park, take a train to New York City or Philadelphia, miniature golf, Restaurant hopping, bowling, indoor miniature golf, visit the Allentown art museum, or movie marathon.Do NOT’s: Miss school if you know you have a major assignment due and if it will affect your grade, Miss if you have a review for a test the following day, miss if you have a test, miss if you have a sporting event that day (remember, you will not be able to play!), post anything on social media that may be a detriment to you from graduating

​

African Americans Struggle to Freedom Illustrated through Images

Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement Written by: Sydney Hoover, Journalism studentApril 29, 2016​“This Light of Ours” exhibit is currently at the Allentown Art Museum. The exhibit presents the Southern Freedom Movement through the visions and voices of eight men and one woman who lived and worked in the South between 1963 and 1967. “I am proud we brought this show to the Lehigh Valley.The images are truly powerful and resonate even today,” said Beverly Hoover the Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Allentown Art Museum. More than 150 photographs convey the actions and achievements of young organizers, student activists, and local people who have helped to create the Civil Rights Movement that changed America. “While doing the condition reports for the exhibit, I would listen to Martin Luther King’s speech and found the images combined with his speeches to be extremely powerful and moving,” said Hoover. “This Light of Ours” helps expand the public’s understanding of the Civil Rights Movement by sharing the actions and achievements of ordinary people through photographs. “This is such a moving exhibit of images of nine photographers who were at the center of the civil rights movement,”said Felicia Pompa after seeing the exhibit. The exhibit will run from now until May 15. The Museum hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Fees for entry do vary. The normal rate is $12. However, the fee is $10 for students and seniors; free to children under 6 and active military personnel; and free for everyone on Sundays as well as Thursday from 4-8 p.m.

When the World of Street Fashion and Trends collide

Just like beauty, fashion trends and standards vary from one region to another. Personal style mixed with influence creates art known as street fashion. Around the world bits and pieces of fashion are shared, liked, and followed.“I follow trends to find what style suits me.” said Wayne Yun, student at Fujian University of Technology. Trends alter from one region to another.“Outfit ideas can be taken out from anywhere. They can be taken out from music to the color of the sky; people can pull out ideas and make really cool styles from it.” Andy Yang, store manager of Moda and New Style. Over 200 million adolescents from 15 to 24 years old are the core to street fashion in China. As of 2016, neutral colors are becoming the trend. Beauty is considered pale skin and can be achieved with BB cream or sunscreen. Korea’s original trend that has been followed by China are full eyebrows, since they make people appear more youthful. In addition to that, standing out and having individual style is becoming more popular in Asia. Sweaters make a statement and can help reduce jackets in the spring. Dark bottoms complement brightly colored tops and balances out the outfit. Sneakers are comfortable to wear outdoor and the neutral beige brings soft tones to the outfit, as well as a small and simple accessory bag for convenience. New York and California are two of America’s cities with the highest gathering of fashion designers. After the 1800s cotton became a more widely used material for clothing. Other fashion statements that have been hitting the streets are Instagram eyebrows, man buns, ombre hair, and statement socks. Instagram eyebrows are filled in eyebrows that are bold and have a clean cut to them and slowly become faded towards the front. A man bun is a bun for longer hair on men can be messy or neat. Ombre hair can be on anyone’s hair, and is simply a gradient of two or more colors that transition. Socks that express your personality or feelings can be defined as statement socks. They can be mix-matched, crazy patterned, or colorful. Plaid can bring a bold statement to the outfit that isn’t too overpowering. wearing dark colors can Bring attention to specific pieces of clothing. In this case, attention is being brought on to the brown moccasins and the jacket. In Brazil, the people are more interested in your overall appearance rather than a specific piece of clothing worn. Generally speaking, brazilians have pride in their body. People will go to the extremes in order to stay attractive and in their best conditions. Plastic surgery is a trending beauty procedure that's been hitting it big in the public. More than half of the population is less than 30. Shows called “Novels” are soap operas that people might also take inspiration from, so networks often keep open lines for people interested in their wardrobes and where they can buy them. Classy and comfortable shoes are worn more often by people in Brazil. High waisted jeans accentuate the body and are easy to pair. Tucking in the top can also help show more of the body figure. Neutral colors are worn and bring a classy style. A simple brown handbag can bring more casualty to outfits like these.European fashion has more of a tailored approach, but casual style is beginning to take place as well. Traditional Spanish style has mixed with Western style over time. Heavy fabrics, corsets, and capes are some of the traditional styles that were apart of the Spanish fashion. Spanish adults care more about the quality of clothing rather than the brand name, but teenagers tend to focus more on the brand. Boots are popular shoes for both men and women. Currently in Spain, leather jackets and layers are worn as urban fashion.Something to know: The first pair of jeans were invented by Levi Strauss in 1873. Oversized shirts are in lately and can be easy to wear. Blue jeans give contrast to the gray shirt and brings vibrant color. A simple watch gives detail to a simple outfit and spices it up. In the late 1800s Chinese surcoats and silk shawls were brought into Australia and were worn over decades. The aviatrix and the squatter’s daughters started up trousers in the 1930s. By 1965 mini skirts became a fashion. Young men and women were no longer wanting to dress up as their parents, and so these garments were born. Australian style partially evolved to adapt to the climate, which is usually hot and dry. Annette Kellerman marketed and designed the first one piece swimsuit for women after shocking the public in 1907 when she wore a man’s bathing suit. Layers can bring excitement and lots of style. Neutral colors make good a base because they are easier to match up with. Jean jackets add a pop of color and edge to a simple outfit. Boots are trendy and help simple outfits become more styles as well. Over the shoulder handbags are good for having when going out because they can hang around your shoulder. Final accessories like high socks and sunglasses also add on to outfits.

Emergency Kit Committee takes action and saves lives.

Supplies that are placed in the bucket and the bucket itself.
Photo by: Madison Walther

We live in a world where we think all living things are good. Nobody could hurt a child, most would think, however those things do happen. Schools all around the world have strict rules on how to keep students safe and sound. Threats are trending and people are not prepared. Although seeing an orange bucket in a classroom with lollipops and garbage bags in it may seem strange their purpose is for a greater good. ¨The main purpose is to keep the kids and administrators safe for lockdown.¨ said Juliana Maffea, sophomore involved with the committee. The Emergency Kit Committee tries it’s best to inform students and teachers about the buckets as well as tell students and teachers about fundraisers for bucket supplies. ¨I know that the orange bucket is for emergency. If we are in a lockdown procedure, we cannot leave the room,” said Mrs Spang Computer teacher In April there were fliers hung around Freedom High School for the Dine to Donate fundraisers. There were fliers for Buffalo Wild Wings, TGI Fridays, and Big Woodys. This gave students the opportunity to help out in their own way. ¨Other ways students could help out is by not touching the items in the buckets because they are only for emergency situations, like lockdowns.¨ said Gabrielle Rader, freshman. Emergency Kit´s should be a requirement because classes can be locked down for hours. For those who don’t know, the Emergency Kit Committee creates buckets that hold supplies for school lockdown;s the club; Mrs. Karla Erdman is advisor of this committee. Even though the Emergency Kit Committee is student ran, Mrs. Erdman helps the students get involved by allowing them to handle the money and purchase items for the buckets. The students involved put items into the orange buckets that are needed in each classroom. For student’s who have fundraising ideas, want to become more involved and want to help put with the emergency buckets come to room 210 for more information. “Safety to me is where one might feel the sense of community and comfort,by ensuring that their policy is easy to follow, and includes everyone in a variety of possible situations that may accrue,” said Mrs Ayre, Biology teacher ​

Advanced Placement, to test or not to test

Is the AP testing in high schools a positive or a negative?Written by: Kerilyn Kipp, Entertainment Editor

As students start to request classes for the next year's school year, Advanced Placement (AP) courses begin to spring the interest of many upcoming junior and senior students. The Advanced Placement program is administered by the College Board and consists of standardized courses that almost are equivalent to undergraduate college courses. After completing an AP class, students typically take the AP exam in that subject, which can earn them credits and accelerated placement in their college courses. “The English AP tests are focused on writing and is usually replaces the freshman college composition and may earn extra credit for the course itself,” said Mr. George Ziegler, Instructional Coach and English Department Chair. Juniors and seniors are the only classes that are able to take more than one AP course. However, Freedom High School (FHS) only gives an option of one AP course for the sophomore class, which is U.S history. This is because of the way that the FHS courses run. The Bethlehem Area School District (BASD) allows sophomores to take the AP U.S. History course, so students can continue onto AP comparative government or AP world once they reach eleventh grade. However, if the student does not want to take an AP class, there is a global studies honors option as well. If someone is receiving good grades in his or her honors classes, it is suggested that the student request an AP course for the following school year. For example, if a sophomore is taking an honors class and is also receiving advanced scores for the work, he or she should take an AP course in the junior year. Each course that gives an AP option as opposed to honors or academic, also gives the option for students to take the AP test for that subject. If students take the AP test, and receive a 90 percent or higher for the class, he or she are then eligible for the exemption policy of the course’s final exam. However, some students may choose to not take the AP test. In that case, those students who chose to not take the AP test, must take the course’s final exam that the teacher or instructor of the course has created. “There is no correlation from the AP testing to the actual courses final grade, according to school district policies,” said Mrs. Donna Roman, Social Studies department chair and girls’ volleyball coach. The AP testing takes place within the first two weeks of May. Everyday there are two sessions happening, which would be the morning session at 8:00 a.m. and the afternoon session which begins at 2:00 p.m. Moreover, there is a test in two different subjects being taken everyday. For example, AP English could be the morning session and U.S. History could be the afternoon session. The tests take place in a 3-hour time frame. Each subject has a different requirement that students must complete in a certain amount of time, such as multiple choice in an hour, and open-ended prompts in two hours. “The test itself costs $90. However, if you are not in a financial state to pay for the test, the schools have been offering a reduced fee for these test takers. The students would simply just have to talk to their guidance counselor about this. Also, there is scholarships that are available so that way the school can actually give you the money to pay to take the tests,” said Mrs. Carol A. Lee, guidance counselor. The scoring for the AP tests run on a scale of a 1 to 5. The average score would ultimately be a ,3 which means that a student has met the requirements for a college course. Earning a 4 or a 5 means that a student is very qualified. However, scores of a 2 or a 1 are not accepted by colleges for credit. The scores are reviewed by college admissions and will help students placement once they are in college. “If you do happen to get the score of a 2 or a 1, you do not have to retake the test. The test is not a necessity. Most students do not retake the test. However, you could just retake the test itself without retaking the entire course,” said Mr. Ziegler. Students receive a packet from the school after signing up for the AP test that addresses important information about the AP exam. The College Board website has a few practice tests that can be printed out and completed for studying purposes. In recent years, there is said to be controversy as to whether or not the AP tests should be given at a high school grade level. Some people believe that these tests are too much stress for some students along with the rest of their normal school schedules. However, others believe that these tests are extremely good resources for the students to get experience in the college level courses prior to actually entering college. “As an AP teacher, I believe that the experience that these students commit to is beneficial. However, students need to know themselves and make sure that they are putting themselves in the proper course,” said Mrs. Roman.

Advanced Placement books that students use to study for the AP exams
Photo by: Kerilyn Kipp

Awards were given out to students for their achievements outside of school

All of the students who were recognized at the award ceremony.
Photo by: Gabriella Greenhoward

Students were recognized for their achievementsWritten by: Gabriella Greenhoward, Freedom ForumApril 25, 2016 Students are often recognized for good grades and athletic achievements. What about the kids who are dedicated to things around the classroom? The young man who wants to go into electric engineering right out of high school? The girl who can build a robot with the ability to overcome physical obstacles set up by professionals? This past Friday, April 22, Freedom High School honored their students for achievements outside of the classroom, and off the field. The first part of the event was an elaborate lunch of sandwiches, pasta salad, chips and cookies, for not only the students, but the parents as well. After having some time to eat, and talk to other families, the guests were invited into the Black Box Theater for the award ceremony. To open things up, Mr. Laporta, principal of Freedom High School, welcomed everyone and then introduced Dr. Roy, superintendent of the Bethlehem Area School District, who also greeted the attendants. That transitioned into the best part: the awards. Students were recognized for a variety of different achievements such as the Robotics Team making it to states, and FBLA members making it to nations. In addition, there were some individual students who received citizenship awards, and a student who is a National Merit Scholar recipient. All in all, this was a great event. It gave these hardworking and dedicated students a chance to shine for the amazing things they have done outside of school.

Getting organized during the college application process

Going on college visits also helps, not only do you get to see the college, but also to purchase cool apparel. This t-shirt is from the college in which I plan to attend in the fall.
Photo by: Julia Ingarao

Going through the college admissions process is very overwhelming. There is a lot of information out there, and deciding on where to go to college is a major life decision. As a second term senior, I already know where I am going, but figuring it out was not easy. Just getting started in the college application process is a daunting task. While the paperwork itself requires careful management, there is also a creative aspect when developing key messages and application themes. Crafting and gathering components of an application while coming up with a personal statement can be time consuming. In order to make it easier, I organized and used various websites and resources which helped streamline the process a bit. First off, the CollegeBoard website is a great place to start. It is not just for SAT prep. Not only are students able to register for the SATs, but they are also able to take survey that provides college matches, searches for scholarships, and enlists more information about financial aid. The second website I learned to befriend is Naviance. Yes, the guidance counselors always talk about it, but it is honestly such a useful website. On Naviance, I was able to look at local scholarships and keep a checklist of what I had to do. Furthermore, it allowed me to notify my guidance counselors when I was accepted, rejected, or waitlisted for a college. Last but not least, I used things that Freedom provided for me. I went to information sessions when certain college representatives visited, and I obtained brochures from the guidance office. More recently, Freedom started hosting college fairs with a wide array of college representatives . There was a fair that had close to 75 different schools like Millersville, The University of Scranton, Lafayette College, and many more. There were also organizations such as the Navy, Marines, Airforce and Army at the fair who spoke to students who were considering enlisting in the military. In the end, the college process may seem scary, but that is only the case if one procrastinates. My advice is to make a checklist, turn everything in on time, and use websites and resources available. Once everything is complete, the waiting game begins. ​

Appreciate all that teachers do for students

You know those people who give all the homework, essays, and thousand question tests? Yeah, horrible people right; NOT. Teachers are just doing their jobs, and they should be appreciated for all they do. During the first week of May 2-6, a series of events will happen during the week for teachers to enjoy. “A way that students can acknowledge their teachers and thank them for all the hard work they do,” said, Ms. Mary Bianco, history teacher and sophomore student class advisor. This year the sophomore class is coordinating Teacher Appreciation Week. They will make sure everything that is supposed to get done within each day goes off without a hitch. With the help of the freshmen, the sophomores will be able to do more for the teachers at FHS. The events happening include previous years ideas that teachers really have enjoyed. “FHS definitely goes the extra mile for our teachers. There is a lot that goes in to plan it and make sure everything goes like it is supposed to,” said, Rachel Black, sophomore, sophomore historian. Each day of the week there will be a different event going on for the teachers to be appreciated in other ways. On Monday it is “Sundae Monday,” where an ice cream bar will be in the faculty room. Tuesday is the annual car wash day where students will be washing cars for teachers after school. Wednesday a cart full of snacks will be going around to classrooms, so teachers can order snacks that they would like to eat. Thursday is “Thankful Thursday” that include students picking a teacher to write a letter to at FHS. Friday is a breakfast for the teachers, so there will be different types of breakfast items for the teachers. “I feel students tend to appreciate their teachers in different ways. We may not always hear ‘Hey! Ms. Bianco thanks, you are doing a great job’, but the smiles in the hall and little things make teachers feel appreciated,” said Ms. Bianco. Teacher Appreciation Week is an annual week celebrated at FHS. Yearly, students help organize this week so teachers can get the most out of it. Usually all classes organize teacher appreciation week, but the junior and senior classes are in charge of other events at FHS, so this is something the sophomores can take more into their hands. “Each year teacher appreciation week improves and gets better. We come up with great ideas and recycle old ones for our teachers to enjoy,” said Black.

The week Teacher Appreciation week occurs.
Photo by: Gabrielle Rader

Why are concert ticket prices so expensive?

Reasoning Behind the Expense of Concert TicketsWritten by: Bryana Straker, Journalism student​April 22, 2016​ Concert tickets have been rising in prices significantly in that last couple of years. The average price of a concert ticket the first six months of last year was $46.69, 4.2 percent higher than the average price at the same time in 2014. Prices are seven percent higher than the average for all of the 2000’s. “The most expensive ticket price I've paid for was $450 for a Katy Perry concert,” said Rachael Iacovone, freshman. “I think it's ridiculous that my mom has to pay nearly $1000 for two tickets to see an artist in concert.” Rolling Stones’ tickets cost about $8 to get into a show in 1969, and now it costs about $350 to see them live. There has been talk about concert tickets being so pricey because the artists are greedy for the money, and others have said it is because of a massive media conglomerate “Clear Channel Communications” now known as iHeartMedia. ABC News stated that since iHeartMedia began buying the industry, the average ticket price has risen by one third. However, one of the main reasons for the surge in concert ticket prices in the last 10 years is due to the switch to iTunes and other streaming music services. Artists begin suffering from illegal music downloads. These artists are not making nearly as much as they did back in the early 2000’s. This is eliminating these artists’ source of income. “When we steal an artist’s work, neither the record company nor the artist receives compensation,” said M. Joy Hayes from her article to the daily finance. When artists go on a world tour, it is a huge production and a lot of people have to be paid in order to make it happen “I think the money we pay for tickets goes to the artist in order for them to have bigger concerts and produce more music,” said Iacovone. “I think concert ticket prices are so expensive because now all people care about is money and receiving money, although famous people need to make a living as well,” said Riyan Randhawa, freshman. All in all, you get what you paid for but in the end you decide whether the huge expense was worth it or not. ​

​​

Doing the dirty business

Collage of all of the missing and broken locks in the Freedom High School Bathrooms
Photo by: Lydia Burnett

The terrible conditions of the school bathroomsWritten by: Lydia Burnett, Journalism student and Thomas Schaeffer, The Freedom ForumApril 21, 2016

Everyday, students at Freedom High School (FHS) need to use the bathroom. However, the horrific and terrible conditions of the stalls and urinals often scare students away from using them. In the Social Studies hallway, there are no locks on the doors in the boys bathroom, and one stall in the girls’ does not have one either. “They’re unsanitary. They don’t have soap a lot. The hand dryers are disgusting, and they barely work,” said Abigail Badman, sophomore. After counting every stall available to girls during the day, it has been found that there are only 24 available during a school day. Since five have no locks, realistically only 19 are useable with privacy. This is expected to accommodate all 856 females currently enrolled. “Yikes. [The] school should put more money into our basic utilities. Sometimes you have to use pencils as locks because the locks are broken or there aren’t any,” said Alex Villarejo, sophomore. Through research, regulations were found regarding how many bathroom stalls are required by law for private schools. For the guys, there are 13 stalls and 21 urinals. Out of the 13 stalls, five do not have functional locks, which leads the students with only eight bathrooms with locks. According to the attendance office, there are 972 boys in school. If this code were to apply, the school is about 11 stalls short of the regulations listed in the code. Furthermore, according to the same code, there should be one bathroom stall for every 20 girls enrolled in school. If this code were to apply to FHS, then there should be between 42 to 43 functioning bathroom stalls. This means that the school is 18 to 19 stalls short, just for the girls. Unfortunately, these regulations do not apply to Freedom. Instead, the most current regulations regarding the bathrooms in public schools are in section 740 of the Pennsylvania code from Senate Bill 794 P.N. 835, which is part of the 2015-2016 session referencing code from 1949. In fact, the first line reads, “Section 740. Water-closets or Out-houses.” So, even if we wanted to have an intelligent conversation regarding restrooms, how can we possibly do that when it references outhouses instead of restrooms? In addition, the Section 740 code is very vague regarding numbers and cleanliness. It does mention that there must be separate restrooms for both sexes, which Freedom has. It states that, “The board of school directors shall keep all water-closets or out-houses, used in connection with any school building, in a clean and sanitary condition,” but does not establish what a baseline for clean and sanitary is. It also does not establish a specific number of restrooms required to accommodate any number of students. Regardless of regulations and laws, there is a clear issue regarding the maintainence of the facilities at FHS. “I went to bathroom the other day in the math wing and not only was the floor all wet, but when I flushed the last toilet, water started shooting out of the back of it from the pipes,” said Julia Ingarao, senior. However, students are not free of blame either. Everyone needs to do his and her part to keep things clean. Students can do their part by avoiding writing on the walls, picking up trash, keeping the seats clean, and reporting problems as soon as they see it. “If you take care of the bathrooms, you will get your privacy,” said Mr. Scott Shander, head custodian at Freedom. In the end, it is unrealistic to think that the district is going to add any extra bathrooms to match the number of students in the school. The budget, time, and space is just not there. However, this means there should be an extra amount of attention paid to the conditions of the bathrooms that we have. Having locks that function on all of the stall doors seems like a basic level of maintenance that should be standard. Overall, our interpretation is that bathrooms should be stocked properly with soap and toilet paper. A greater effort should be made to discourage graffiti and remove it when it appears. This effort should be made by both students, faculty and staff, working as a team. We also believe that faulty or missing stall doors and locks should be repaired in a timely manner.

​

The Battle Between DC Comics’ Greatest Superheroes

Is it possible that two of the world’s most favorite superheroes are against each other in battle? It is, and it did in fact happen. After the battle between Zod (Michael Shannon) and Superman (Henry Cavill) in Metropolis, many lives lost and the devastation of the city of Metropolis. Angry over their lost loved ones and the destruction of their home, Superman is no longer looking as a god. Instead he is looked at as a threat to humanity especially to none other than Batman (Ben Affleck). Fighting for what they both believe in, justice, Batman and Superman battle to what seems to be the death as they attempt to rid each other off the face of Earth. This is where the question stands with Superman: is he here to save humanity, or end it? “He has the power to take out the entire human race and if we believe there is even a one percent chance that he is our enemy, we have to take it as an absolute certainty!” said Batman to Alfred. Although, Batman is not as heroic and mighty as he depicts to be. Not only has he terrorized criminals, but he has come to the point as to branding them. At one point of the film, both superheroes meet at a party Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) hosts but as their true selves; Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne. Of course their comments to one another are not very nice. “Most of the world does not share your opinion Mr. Wayne,” Clark Kent said to Wayne in which Wayne responded “Maybe it is the Gotham City in me? We have had a bad history with freaks dressed like clowns.” Their hostility towards one another seems to grow, and a certain billionaire industrialist uses this to his advantage. His name is Lex Luthor, and he does not believe that Superman is fit to save humanity. “Devils don’t come from hell beneath us. No, they come from the sky.” Said Lex Luthor. Who is the only possible being capable of flying? Superman is. Photographs, newspaper articles, all are sent to the Dark Knight and Superman in hopes of getting under each other’s skin. Of course, neither of them knew who the true mastermind was behind the propaganda that they were receiving. Meanwhile Batman was trying to figure out ways to take down the invincible Superman, the red and blue flying hero was trying to make a better name of himself giving Lex Luthor the perfect time to create his master plan to destroy them both. He would make them face each other, as Lex Luthor said “God v Man. Day v Night. Son of Krypton v bat of Gotham!” “I cannot believe they changed Batman. His new costume was cool though,” said sophomore, Kiresly Diaz. Christian Bale, who portrayed Batman in the ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy was replaced with Ben Affleck. Once Batman and Superman face each other to battle, Batman’s costume is new and improved. His famous Batsuit cloth, was changed head-to-toe armor and a mask that included glowing blue eyes. There was no doubt that Batman was ready to take down Superman. “Batman and Superman were awesome, but Wonder Woman was even better,” said another sophomore, Jasmine Dowell. Featured as a supporting character in the movie, Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) sets out to defeat the unstoppable Doomsday. Will Batman and Superman set their hatred for one another aside and help Wonder Woman defeat the invincible Doomsday or let him destroy everything in his path? Find out in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice which is in theaters now

Titanic remembrance day collides into your world on April 15

The Titanic is one of the most memorable disasters in world history today. Written by: Sarah Weeks, Journalism studentApril 20, 2016

On April 15, 1912 the Titanic, the “Unsinkable Ship”, went down in history as one of the largest shipwrecks in the world. National Titanic Remembrance Day happens every year on April 15 to celebrate and honor those who have lost their lives in one of history’s most memorable shipwrecks. “This day is dedicated to the memory of when the Titanic sank into the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean in April, 1912,” said National Day Calendar.com. The “Unsinkable Ship” carried 2,224 passengers and staff from England to New York City. Throughout this disaster 1,502 lives were lost in the devastation. The RMS (Royal Mail Steamer) Titanic was a British passenger liner that set sail on April 10, 1912. At 11:40 pm on April 14, 1912 the Titanic knocked into an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean. Although it ended in disaster, the Titanic left important legacies behind. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) was established in 1914 after the shipwreck. This organization was created to insure anyone at sea safety in their boats. This organization still governs maritime safety today. To celebrate National Titanic Remembrance Day, pick up a book or pop in the movie and grab a bowl of popcorn to indulge in some thrilling Titanic inspired story. The book “Unsinkable: The Full Story of the RMS Titanic” by Daniel Allen Butler, is a book inspired by the disaster of the Titanic. This book centers around the people who built the ship and rode the ship on the trip of the disaster. Another book inspired by the Titanic is “The Night Lives on.” This story by Walter Lord talks about new evidence and theories on the shipwreck of the Titanic. In this 1955’s story, Walter Lord the author, interviewed some of the survivors after the accident. This book is also considered true evidence of the Titanic. “[This book] sheds light on the sinking of the Titanic, with new evidence and theories on, and revelations about, the disaster,” said goodreads.com. Lastly, the well known 1997 movie the “Titanic” portrays the titanic from the perspectives of a passenger. The romance between the love-bird characters played by Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet keeps you hooked into the thrilling movie. “The characters were pretty spot on, especially Leo,” said Isabela Guet-Cruza, a Notre Dame High School student. Titanic Remembrance Day celebrates all the souls lost in the tragic accident that occurred on April 15. Pick up a book or watch the “Titanic” to experience the Titanic for yourself.

The Titanic was one of the most historic shipwrecks in the world
Photo by: www.uschina.usc.edu

Senior athletes to play in college

Important student athletes are recognized for their college acceptancesWritten by: Roland Cash and Nathan Shapiro, Journalism studentsApril 20, 2016

The time has come when senior athletes are recognized to play sports at the next level. A group of 27 student-athletes were recognized on April 13 as they made a pledge towards their respective colleges. Senior athletes who play different types of sports like cheerleading, diving, football, soccer, baseball, cross country, volleyball, basketball, softball, rowing, field hockey, track and field, and wrestling were all recognized for signing to the next level. ​

Students waiting to hear what college their friends are going to.
Photo by: @fhsforum on twitter

Cheerleading -

Cristina Youwakim-

Youwakim will be attending to Maryland University to cheer for the Terrapins. She will be majoring in biology and excited to perform on the big stage. “ I’m excited to go and hope to make it to nationals [for cheerleading],”said Youwakim.

​

Baseball-Jared Dancsecs- Dancsecs will be attending Wilkes University next year to play baseball, as he will be sporting the blue and gold on his future jerseys. He is very excited to be playing and hopes that he will do well at Wilkes. John Yocum-Yocum will be attending Indiana University of PA to play baseball. He says he is proud to be a Crimson Hawk, and hopes to do well there. Frank Olshefski -Olshefski will be attending Eastern University to play baseball. ​

Football-Roberto Diez- Diez will be attending to Moravian College to play football. Diez planning to continue his hard work and love for the game. Hopes to become a big impact and get playing time for the greyhound. “ I’m excited to play football and ready to get to it,” said Diez.

Ryan Nickol -Nickol will be attending to Moravian College to play football. Nickol will be majoring in Nursing and excited to get the chance be apart of a good program. “ I can’t wait to play in the next level of football,” said Nickol

Alkiohn Dunkins -Dunkins will be attending to Moravian College to play football. Dunkin’s work ethic and skills on the field got him a good chance to become a freshman starter for the Greyhounds.“ I hope to start and have a good career at Moravian,” said Dunkins

Colin Zarzecki - Zarzecki will be attending to Moravian College to play football. Zarzecki excited to become incoming freshmen for the ‘Hounds.“ I’m very excited to be a ‘Hound,” said Zarzecki.

Cordell Cotto - Cotto will be attending East Stroudsburg University to play football. Cotto will major in sports management at ESU. He is very excited to become a Warrior.“ I hope to start as a freshmen and have a good season, “ said Cotto

Jonah Gundrum - Gundrum will be attending Johns Hopkins University to play football. Gundrum will major in Microbiological engineer and hopefully will become a starter for the Blue Jays. “ I’m excited to go and going to try my best,” said Gundrum.

Mario McIntyre -McIntyre will be attending Millersville University to play football. McIntyre is hoping to have a big impact on the team as he tries help out when they need him.“ I’m excited to be a Marauder. I plan to be long snapper and tight end,” said McIntyre. Nate Stewart ( Transfer ) - Stewart will be attending Akron University to play football. Stewart will major in communication and planning on becoming rookie of year in the MAC. “ Planning on making a start and #RizUp,” said Stewart.

Andres Santos - Santos will be attending Del Val University to play football. Santos will try to play running back or linebacker at the next level.

Rowing-Bridget Tarnowski-Tarnowski will be attending the University of North Carolina to be a part of the rowing team. She will be a part of the UNC tar heels sporting the blue and white school colors. ​

Softball-Shayla Peterson-Shayla is attending Concordia College to play softball. She says that she is happy to be accepted there and cannot wait to play. Kylee Schwind-Schwind will be attending Arcadia university to play softball. “I am very excited to be attending Arcadia university,” said Schwind. She will be a part of the Arcadia Knights. Hunter Schantz - Schantz will be attending Keystone College to play softball. Schantz will major in physical therapy and hope to have a starting job on the team. “I want to contribute to my team as much as possible,” said Schantz. ​

Volleyball-Alexis Szaro- Alexis Szaro said, “I’m ready to continue my academic and athletic career at Moravian college.”She is attending Moravian college to play volleyball. ​

Cross Country -Will Alpaugh - Alpaugh will be attending Richmond University to run cross country. Alpaugh is one of the top runners in the district and now continuing his talent at the next level. “ I’m very excited to get the chance to compete at the next level,” said Alpaugh. ​

Soccer -John Eltringham - Eltringham will be attending York College of PA to play soccer. Eltringham will major in marketing and is very excited to play in college. “ I’m going to try to play my best and compete,” said Eltringham. Mezen Abdalla - Abdalla will be attending Desales University to play soccer. Abdalla is one the top soccer player in the district. ​

Diving -Madison Young - Young will be attending Marshall University to dive for the Thundering Herd. Young will study to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. She is the only the freshmen diver coming in and hopefully will be able to compete. “ I hope to compete in conference meets and contribute to the team,” said Young.

Field Hockey -

Sierra Jefferson -

Jefferson will be attending Ball State University to play field hockey. Jefferson will major in Exercise Science ( pre-physical therapy ) and hope to learn more about the college. “ I’m excited to play field hockey,” said Jefferson.

Wrestling -

Dylan Brown -

Brown will be attending Kutztown to wrestle. Brown will major in Business Marketing and have high expectation in the division two 2 level. “ Can’t wait to wrestle for Kutztown,” said Brown. ​

Girl’s Basketball -

Nia Mims -

Mims will be attending South Plains College to play basketball. Mims decide to go to JUCO to get a better education and work on ability. “ I’m very excited to play basketball after high school,” said Mims. ​

Track and Field -

Juwan Northington -

Northington will be attending Indiana Tech to run track. Northington will major in Web Development and his goal as a freshmen is to be all-conference.“All I want to do is my mom proud,” said Northington.

Roland Cash-

Cash will be attending Moravian College to run track. Cash will major in Graphics Design and will triple for Greyhounds. ​

Bringing awareness to FHS through Friends

Bryce KollarThe Freedom Forum After a year of consecutive planning, Freedom Friends worked hard for the workshop that took place on April 13, 2016. The students organized a breakfast meet up before the workshop, where students conversed and met. Then everyone met in the auditorium where each student of Freedom Friends introduced themselves before a presentation was showed on screen of how the organization came to be. After, students from the club shared their personal thoughts on what Aevidum means to them, and what we could do to face the future at Freedom. The students then broke off into smaller groups with a Freedom Friends team member, where they played interactive games, talked about acceptance, being cared for, acknowledgement, and appreciation at the school. Freedom Friends hoped to accomplish the feelings of all of these throughout the workshop so the students felt comfortable. As the workshop came to a close, the group came together again and talked about what their group did during their small group time. Some talked about the four key words, others talked about their experience of not only meeting new people, but making a bigger step to upcoming future of Aevidum.

Support FHS through Dine-to-Donate in April 2016

Fundraising is underway in order to continue to purchase items for the emergency kits, which are housed in every classroom at FHS.Help support the efforts by dining out at the locations below. FLYERS ARE NEEDED (click the link).Thank you for your support!The Freedom Forum & Emergency Kit Committee

PLTW Engineer Students Field Trip

Wed., April 16, 2016Mrs. Alexandra RoscherThe PLTW engineering students went to Martin's Creek and Talen Energy generation plants today. Students had the opportunity to speak with mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineers, as well as tour both facilities.

Photos Submitted by Alexandra Roscher

Socialist Club lends a helping hand to the community

Fhs Socialist Club
PC: Juliana Maffea

Community Service Fair held at FHS opens new opportunities for studentsBy: Juliana Maffea, The Freedom Forum

​Are you lacking on community service hours? Don’t worry because the Community Service Fair can help. The Community Service Fair was held in the cafeteria on the left, and many organizations came here to showcase who they are and what they offer. ​“The fair was motivated by the philosophical desire to do good for the community,” said Mr. Gerald Roscher, advisor of the Socialist Club. ​The Community Service Fair was created by the Socialist Club. The Socialist club was made by Kyle Giamportone, a senior. He had the idea of making the club with Mr. Roscher as the advisor. As of right now, the club consists of only seniors, but they are hoping that freshman and sophomores will soon sign up to keep the club running. ​“If we can get more members that are younger involved, then we would like to do it every year,” said Giamportone, senior. ​Being a Socialist, is similar to being a Democrat. Socialism tends to favor the idea of the government controlling big businesses rather than them being controlled by specific people. Instead of having a “hands off” approach like Republicans, Socialists are more hands on. “Basically we just wanted to bring back to the school in terms of politics,” said Giamportone. At the fair, many different organizations showed up, looking for volunteers to help out. There were organizations like the Special Olympics, Teen Advisory Board, and even the Cadets Registration, all looking for students to help them. “Our Teen Advisory Board aims to help teens and their families while also bringing exposure to the library,” said Jenne Mante, Teen Advisory Board employee. Many of the organizations that showed up were happy with the amount of kids who came to their stations. Also, they were looking forward to working with the volunteers, and helping them get their hours. “I think this was a terrific opportunity to connect with students,” said Jill Arington, Shakespeare Festival employee. The Socialist Club did a great job at making this fair happen. With all of the vendors, anyone could find something that fits them and can benefit them in the future. Not only does this fair benefit students, but it benefits everyone involved. “It’s definitely a good idea to make this an annual thing,” said Krista Berardelli, FLY LVIA employee.​

Ending discrimination one day at a time

The symbol representing the Zero Discrimination Day campaign

Zero Discrimination Day, a day dedicated to ending world discrimination By: Byrana Straker, Journalism StudentZero Discrimination Day is a day to celebrate diversity where people come together to raise awareness for the discrimination of people who are considered anything other than “normal.Back in 2013 on World AIDS Day, UNAIDS launched the campaign for Zero Discrimination Day. It came to life in 2014 on March 1. This was created to eliminate the discrimination of people affected by gender inequality, travel restrictions, sexually transmitted diseases, and stigma and discrimination whether it be race, gender, or disabilities.“I think that everyone just wants to be accepted for who they are. That’s one of life’s goals when you are in a society like ours,” said Mrs. Amber Chiafulio, biology teacher. This day takes place in more than 20 countries from Columbia to Uzbekistan and in almost 80 countries there are laws criminalizing same sex relations. Many countries have laws against discrimination, while some countries use discrimination as a way of government. In the countries celebrating diversity, it is promoted with various activities to celebrate everyone’s right to live a full life with dignity. The theme for Zero Discrimination Day this year is “Open up, reach out.” “There are many things that tie us together as human beings, and one of them is compassion for others,” said Mrs. Chiafulio.Stigmatizing people with HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases discourages people that think they may have it get tested. People die from these diseases, people are killing themselves from constantly being put down for being who they are. Men who have same sex relations have reported to be afraid to seek the help to get tested. More than 10 percent of women and 23 percent of men with disabilities have reported to be afraid to seek health care due to previous prejudice doctor visits. Discrimination is something so big it affects millions of people around the world every single day. Zero Discrimination Day was created in the hopes of terminating all the wrong-doings by people against variance of others.

﻿National Women's History Month influences girls all around

Two girls holding hands, representing the unity of National Women's History Month

National Women’s History Month is an annual event that takes place in the month of MarchBy: Sarah Weeks, Journalism Student​ For over 30 years The National Women's History Project has been working to write women back into History. This organization was founded by Molly Macgregor, Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, and Bette Morgan in Santa Rosa, California in 1980. In 1987 The National Women’s History Project led a successful campaign to have a month dedicated to the women who help shape and mold our world. “Today our aim is as clear and simple as it was 25 years ago: to teach as many people as possible about women’s role in history,” said NWHP web. The National Women's history month is an annual event that takes place in the month of March. The theme for 2016 is recognizing women of history and future women in leadership positions. “Working to Form a more perfect Union: honoring women in public service and government,” said NWHP. The works of The National Women’s History Month Project has been recognized by many Educational Organizations including The National Education Association. The NWHP has developed many informational resources to educate people about the importance of women in history. “You would not even know to look for these women that could be extremely motivational and inspirational and you would not even know that you could have done something without being being told about it,” said Ms. Charpentier, Spanish teacher. National Women's History Month supports the history of women and gives young girls the idea that anything is possible. “For girls, knowing women’s achievements expands their sense of what is possible. For all of us, knowledge of women’s strengths and contributions builds respect and nourishes self-esteem,” said writers from NWHP web. The National Women’s History Month Projects supports women's rights and helps them to be written back into history.

﻿Horoscopes: Are they fact or fiction?

The symbols of the Zodiac signs

By: Anna Cannavo, Journalism Student

​ Horoscopes have become a more common topic of discussion over the years and are developing controversial opinions about whether they actually prove someone’s true personality or if they are just a theory that give made up information for the fun of it. A horoscope is a prediction of what is to come in your near future and the behavior that best describes the zodiac for specific situations a person will be facing during a month. Each zodiac symbol is derived from one 12 constellations that orbit the sun and the moon and are said to create “an imaginary belt of the heavens.” The constellations were discovered by the Greeks in 500 BC by the philosopher Plato and became a common astrological theory, with astrology referring to “the science of the stars” in Greek. The names of each constellation come from an exoctic animal and they directly correlate to the monthly range in which people were born in; hence, the zodiac sign. Zodiac signs are said to come from the time that the sun is directly seen in front of that specific constellation. Over the course of one year, the sun will orbit in front of all twelve constellations. During the time period that someone is born, the sun will be in a specific spot in front of one constellation and that star becomes the sign that you belong to taking after the animal it’s shaped as. “While the Zodiac may not be a great predictor of love, fortune, and health, it is a great tool for better understanding the motions of the sun, the Earth, and even the cultures that have come and gone on our little planet,” said Christopher Crockett in his article “What Is The Zodiac,” which is published online at EarthSky. This is another reason why the controversy of horoscopes and zodiacs have grown over the past hundred years. People have different opinions on whether or not horoscopes are a hoax or if they really do connect us back to the stars and the way each of us were created. In March, someone will either be a Pisces or Aries depending on the time you were born during the month. These zodiac signs are said to be people who will always have a youthful heart and are true entrepreneurs. They are also seen as super honest but sometimes too honest that it makes them sensitive and hurt in the long run. “I agree with the honesty and sensitivity symbols. I am sometimes too honest and humble. I do not agree with the true entrepreneurs part.” said Katie Gallagher, Phillipsburg High School freshman. Coming from someone who was born with a March zodiac, Gallagher agrees with some parts to her zodiac and not with others. She does believe that some symbols match her personality but others are way off. “I think some things about horoscopes are made up because it doesn’t make sense how stars that are shaped as animals can connect to humans in any way,” said Gallagher. This controversy varies throughout people and will never become clear whether or not the history of horoscopes and zodiacs are fact or fiction.

FHS PTO & Guidance collected gifts for a giving tree that will help 14 families in need. Two of the families are house fire victims.

Photo: Joshua Christiansen

December Articles

Merry Elfin' ChristmasBrace you elves, the Elves of Bethlehem are coming to town!By: Tejpal RandhawaThe Freedom Forum On December 17, the Elves of Bethlehem will be making their third annual visit to children across the Lehigh Valley.This wonderful organization was founded by Eileen Seitz and Kerry Hathaway when they were in their freshman year of college. For the past two years, they have visited over 80 families on their own, but this year the organization was opened up to anyone who wanted to be an elf or help with publicity. Anyone who was interested being a part of this magical experience just had to fill out a simple application online. So what does it take to earn a visit from Santa’s elves? It’s quite simple. A parent just needs sign up for an elf visit online, free of charge, and choose a designated time slot. They will receive a confirmation email with their date, time, and location so they know when to expect the elves. Before the elves arrive, the parents will hide a gift outside for the elves to pick up and give to the kids as if it came directly from Santa. The elves will already know the names of the children and where to pick up the presents, so it seems like a genuine elf visit for the kids. Each visit lasts about 10 minutes so that more families can be reached. The elf visits are completely free of charge, but donations are eagerly welcomed as all of the money earned goes directly to BASD Mini-Thon, an organization that raises money for pediatric cancer. Elves of Bethlehem is completely donation based, so the more, the merrier! In 2013, Kerry and Eileen visited 30 families and raised $676. In 2014, they visited 55 families and raised $1,274. The goal for Christmas 2015 is to reach at least 100 families and raise at least $2,000.“With the help of all of you [volunteers], this goal has never been more possible,”said Eileen during the first meeting with all of the elves. ​ For more information, you can like the Elves of Bethlehem page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bethlehemelves4thon or follow them on instagram @elvesofbethlehem. If you see any elves running around the Lehigh Valley from December 17 to December 22, feel free to show your support and share the Christmas spirit! As always, this BASD Mini-Thon event is FTK, for the kids!

Who will be Mr. Mini- THON this year?

This picture shows the male participants of last year pageant competition, and from left to right are: Ryan Wescoe, Kylon Pretty, Micheal Middle, Joe Monteleone.
Photo by: Bill Leicht Photos

Senior male students compete in a competitive pageant for the kidsBy: Daniel Quigley, Journalism Student

​ Imagine your fellow senior, male classmates in beachwear standing on a stage in front of the whole school, making complete fools out of themselves. Well, I have good news for you. You do not have to imagine; the dream has come true.Your fellow senior, male classmates will in fact be wearing bikinis, making fools out of themselves and much more. Although you may think that this is not something you would want to see beyond the realm of your imagination, it is going to be an event that you do not want to miss. BASD mini-THON will be holding a Mr. Mini-THON contest at Freedom High School on Dec. 16, 2015. This event is taking place separately from THON this year to raise even more money for the kids.Applications are still being accepted, so if you are a senior male at Freedom High School who thinks he has what it takes, apply before or on Monday, Dec. 7. Applicant Roland Cash says he applied to “raise money for the kids” and plans to be “crowned Mr. Mini-THON and show off his dance moves.”Join friends, family, and students in an exciting fundraiser that is raising money for the fight against childhood cancer.

FHS Hallway Decorating

Photos: Karla Erdman

FHS Pep Rally Chants: Time for Change or a Right of Passage...One Student Speaks Out

The following letter was released on 9/30/15 through Ross Sonnenblick's personal Twitter account. The Freedom Forum received permission to publish Sonnenblick's letter as a letter to the editor. The Freedom Forum's goal is to provide a voice for all students at Freedom High School and to get the discussion started. So read on...

As seniors at Freedom High School, we are all different. We take different classes, have different friends, and go home to different situations. We share at least one commonality, though. We were all freshmen.

Which means that we heard the words “freshmen suck!” being hurled in our faces at the Homecoming pep rally. The upperclassmen jeered at us as they wore their “Freedom Family” shirts. They laughed as they did it. click here to read more

Getting Involved with Your School!

Finding a club you like has never been easierLinda Mao, The Freedom Forum If you are either looking to expand your list of extra curricculars or joining your first school activity, there are many ways to get involved with Freedom High School. “If you want to join a club, just go for it!” says Morgan Cahill, Sophomore. “There’s plenty for everyone.” First, you need to know what kind of clubs are out there. From the Chess Club to the Freedom Forum, you should be able to find an activity that you like. If not, there is always the option of starting your own club. Ask the school administration for more details. Your school-issued planner has a list of clubs and activities on pages 20 to 26, or you can check out the “Students” and “Athletics” tab on Freedom’s website. Now that you have found a suitable extracurricular, you might be concerned about where to join. Often, these extracurriculars do not start until a few months into the school year, or even next season if it is a sport; but you can always double check by contacting the teacher advisor. Clubs and sports often put their recruiting message on the morning announcements, but as many of you probably know it is not joining a club that is the hard part, it is actually hearing the announcements that is difficult. Luckily, you can find all the morning announcements from that past week on Freedom’s website in the leftmost column under “Daily Announcements.” Extracurricular activities also often put up signs around the school to notify students of first meetings, so pay attention to the walls as you move through the hallways. Joining a school activity can be extremely rewarding in college applications or even just simply curing boredom. Do not hesitate to add on a club to your schedule. Many clubs are searching for new recruits!

No More A/B Scheduling

The A/B scheduling program has ended at Freedom High School after being fully used for one year.By: Mitchell Coriell The A/B scheduling format for AP classes last year has stopped at Freedom High School after one year in use. A/B schedule is where the days, A, are divided into days 1, 3, and 5. Days 2, 4, and 6 being the B days. Every A day a student would have one class a certain block and on B days they would have a different class that same block; these two classes would stay the entire year. “The students would alternate their schedule based on what day of the cycle it is,” said Amanda Miranda, an english teacher at Freedom High School. The school did not entirely do away with the A/B schedule though. For years, students in the band, orchestra, or choir have often had A/B scheduling with said activities with gym. Many students and teachers have found both positives and negative sides to the A/B scheduling. “It had a lot of pros and cons, as a writing teacher it helped kids with their writing because they had more time to process it,” said Miranda. Some students who have taken many AP or honors courses may have found difficulty trying to juggle a possible eight classes throughout the entire school year. Although the deadlines may have been longer, there would still be a larger amount of work for students. “I disliked A/B scheduling because I had all of my classes all year, so I had twice the homework I usually would,” said Katie Gibbs, senior.

Big Changes for Student Council

Student Council is changing and changing in a good way. The student organization has gained two new advisors, Mrs. Deanna Webb, emotional support teacher, and Mr. Michael Cleffi, gym teacher. “Meetings are going to start getting more formal so that the student council can feel more official. We are going to start saving money and in order to that they will start using google docs to share information with each other instead of using paper. Also start printing our own tickets for homecoming, etc,” said Mrs. Webb. The meetings have become very official, with each assembly starting with the pledge of allegiance. There is also a schedule and agenda for what will be discussed at that day’s meeting. The students also generally sit by grade, with the Executive Board, the student body officers, sitting in the front helping to run the meetings. “I’m happy with how the student council is all coming along so far. There is just so much to be done in so little time because the beginning of the year is always the busiest part for the student council because of homecoming , Freedom vs Liberty game , etc. Even though this will never be able to happen I would love if the Freedom vs. Liberty game be held in the spring instead because everything is so jammed in the beginning of the year,” said Mrs. Webb. The Student Council has many new events coming up, with fall being their busiest part of the year. There is the Homecoming game t-shirt sale, the Homecoming dance, spirit week hallway decorating, the Freedom vs. Liberty football game, and a few other things. One issue that the Student Council is working on this year is inclusion and communication within the Riot Squad, Freedom’s student section. “I would like for the Riot Squad to be more linked with the Student Council because I feel like they just do their own thing,” said Webb. Student council is changing, but it’s heading in a good direction. The meetings are held every Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. in Room 105. See any Student Council representative, officer, or advisor for more details.

Freedom Welcomes New Staff

Lynn Spina is back in the Freedom Family, as an Athletic Secretary. She graduated from Freedom, as did her son. Her daughter currently attends Freedom. She has been a secretary for 3 years now. “I was in construction, here, and then moved away. Then 8 years ago, I moved back. The person who had the job already always talked about how she loved the job and how easy it was. Then when Mrs. Swchoyer left, who was one of my friends, so I told my boss I had to apply for this job,” said Mrs. Spina. “I was very, very excited, I love this job! I love sports and I’m the cheer coach so it makes things a lot easier.” Mrs. Spina has been in the district for years, so she is adjusting well.

Megan Troutman is a new staff member this year at Freedom High School. She is teaching ninth grade English and will be teaching 12th grade Non-fiction English class next semester. “I went to Moravian College for all four years and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English along with my teaching certificate in English. I went to Souderton Area High School before college,” said Miss. Troutman. From a very young age she had always wanted to be a teacher. “This is my first teaching job, I was a student teacher here in the district,” said Miss Troutman. “I love it here, I’m back and get to see everyone again. I feel at home and I feel comfortable.”

Aileen Torres is a new staff member at Freedom High School this year. She is making the difficult adjustment to everyday life in an high school environment. She was a former elementary and middle school teacher for 28 years. “It is very different from the middle school. The school is big and I still do not know where some classrooms are, but everybody is very helpful. It is good to see some of my old students. Overall, I like the change and I am very happy to be here,” said Ms. Torres, special education teacher. Ms. Torres attended college in Puerto Rico, then finished out her semester in Trenton, New Jersey.

Freedom Family welcomes back Mary Dunn, who attended Freedom High School. Ms. Dunn decided that she wanted to be a teacher in her junior year here at Freedom. From there, she went to Grace college in Winona Lake, Indiana. She was a student teacher at Whitko High School and Trexler Middle School, and substituted in the Bethlehem Area School District. “I enjoy what I do, I appreciate the faculty and the students,” said Ms. Dunn. Even though this is her first full time teaching job, she has been teaching for over a year.

Freedom Family welcomes Mrs.Selines Oquendo, guidance counselor for students with last names Roo-S. Mrs. Oquendo earned her bachelor’s degree at Desales University and her master’s degree at Lehigh University. “I had started working with a community program that worked with inner-city high schoolers, and I enjoyed working with them so I went back to school for my master’s degree,” said Mrs. Oquendo. “I was an intern here at Freedom and it was a smooth transition and I knew a lot of my colleagues and students assigned to me.” As opposed to being a private counselor, Mrs. Oquendo chose to be a school guidance counselor. “I want to work with teenagers in every area of their life and be a part of guiding them and helping them be successful. I am really enjoying the beginning of my first year and I have a passion to see students succeed. I want to make a difference,” said Mrs. Oquendo.

Diane Csekitz, is a new chemistry teacher at Freedom. She has never taught in Pennsylvania, but she was a teacher in New Jersey for 9 years. "There is a great group of kids and teachers [at Freedom]," said Ms. Csekitz. She never planned to teach, but she went back to school to become a teacher. A mentor suggested that Ms. Csekitz teach science, which started her journey of becoming a teacher.

Freedom family welcomes Sheila Reinert, attendance secretary. Previously, Ms. Reinert worked in East Hills Middle School. ¨I am adjusting to Freedom, I’m not getting lost anymore, and people have been very nice to me,” said Ms. Reinert. She has two children that go to Freedom, a son, that plays football and a daughter that plays field hockey. Her interests include cooking and watching her children’s sport games.

We welcome Scott Shander to the Freedom Family as the new Head Custodian. However, he is not a new custodian in the Bethlehem Area School District. Prior to Freedom he has worked at Liberty and the Ed center. He has been a custodian for just under 3 years. Mr. Shandler has big shoes to fill as Mr. Mike Quigly retired from the head custodian position at the end of the 2014/15 school year. “It’s not easy; it’s a big school,” said Mr. Shander, when asked how he was adjusting to life at Freedom High School. At the opening faculty meeting, Mr. LaPorta complimented Mr. Shandler and his custodial team for their great work in getting the building ready for the new school year.

Pen & Ink Magazine 2015

To Turf or Not to Turf?

Email Regarding Synthetic Turf from Peter Crownfield to the BASD

Apparently a decision on one or more synthetic turf projects is scheduled for the Board meeting on Monday. Please take time to read the information outlined below before you make this very important decision.

Kendall Garden, a student & lacrosse player at Lehigh, has been researching synthetic turf all semester and is scheduled to present an update on concerns and recommendations at a meeting that Dr. Roy scheduled for Thursday the 23rd. Of course, we were hoping that this would be before the Board had to make a decision.

Kendall & I found substantial evidence of adverse health impacts from synthetic turf, including multiple chemical exposures from ‘crumb rubber’ infill, exposure to flame retardants used on the plastic grass, and ‘turf burns’ & antibiotic-resistant staph infections suffered by athletes.

As is the case with most chemical exposures, children are at much higher risk than adults — but the problems can take years or decades to develop, so the turf marketers don’t see anything to worry about.

It seems pretty obvious, but do not rely on assurances from the synthetic turf marketers or the shallow studies they commission!

One clear problem is the ‘crumb rubber’ infill material used to support the fake grass: it’s made from ground-up used tires or other sources of rubber, and it is undeniable that these materials are loaded with a variety of toxic substances known to cause cancer & birth defects — and even 2nd- or even 3rd-generation reproductive problems. A few years ago, physicians at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine prepared a fact sheet that includes a statement that 'Exposures to chemicals present in crumb rubber at very high levels… are known to cause birth defects, neurologic and developmental deficits, and some can even cause cancer…’.

The only question, then, is to what extent athletes are exposed to these deadly substances. Amazingly, there has been no comprehensive research that considers the combined effects of long-term low-dose exposure, concurrent exposure to multiple toxins, and the amplifying effect of multiple pathways (inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact). This is one reason why experts at Environment & Human Health, including a toxicologist who worked at the Centers for Disease Control [CDC], called for comprehensive research and a moratorium on all synthetic turf fields until the concerns are resolved.

Remember, the problems can take years or decades to develop — and with chemicals that are endocrine disruptors, the damage may not show up until the next generation. We posted some of our preliminary work on the Alliance website, including an Overview, some other preliminary findings, and sources and links to some external sites. I will also attach a high-school newspaper article and excerpts from the definitive study done in 2007 by Environment & Human Health [EHHI] in New Haven.

Your decision is vitally important! — Exposing thousands of children to the risk of long-term health damage from toxic chemicals in synthetic turf fields is a frightening possibility. Please protect them and future generations! The ‘surplus’ bond funds would be better used to develop protective polices for the existing field and plan for its removal as soon as possible.

P.S. — The infatuation with synthetic turf is even harder to understand when you consider the high cost and how many athletes prefer natural turf. Not only is the initial cost of synthetic turf much higher, the ongoing costs to maintain it are usually as high — and sometimes even higher — than for natural turf. If it is not properly maintained, the useful life is shorter and the health risks go up. Professional and college-level athletes in most sports prefer natural turf by wide margins, often citing synthetic turf’s negative effects on the game.

More information on synthetic turf

Want to be part of the award-winning Freedom Forum next school year? Click the button below to be added to the group. ALSO, sign up for Remind system to receive text notifications about meetings, events, etc.

Congratulations to Sahitya Mandalapu, Adam Li, and Linda Mao, for their outstanding achievements at the FBLA States Competition, held at Hershey Park!

Weigh in on the Pennsylvania debate on the legalization of marijuana: take this ANONYMOUS poll

3/19/15

Justin Jacobs 65 Roses Guitar Being AuctionedThe time has come to auction the guitar to raise proceeds toward a cure. The live auction will be held at The Breath of Life Gala at The Renaissance in Allentown, PA on March 21st 2015. It has been a long road and lots of hard work, but we are finally here!

If interested you can bid on the guitar and signatures by proxy. For rules and information, please follow the link below

The further the news spreads about the auction, the better chance we have at spreading awareness and raising proceeds for a cure. Please consider helping us spread the news through social media of the auction and the guitar. Thank you so much for everything you have done to make this idea a wonderful reality. Together, we can make a difference and “add tomorrows” to the lives of those with CF.

Congratulations to Peter Young and Ryan Bailis for representing Freedom High School in the 2015 PMEA Northeast Region Orchestra Festival that will be held this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Scranton!

Due to the inclement weather, the District has exceeded the four snow days that are built into the District’s calendar. Therefore, Thursday, April 2, 2015, will be converted to a Regular School Day.

Congratulations to Chris Poczak and Jordana Schaeffer for presently attending the PMEA Region Band Festival. One step to go for all-states!

Pheiffer family update and meal needs

Kiera continues to work hard and fight for her recovery every day! With Kiera now in rehab, her family is in need of help with meals this month, as they are back and forth from work/school and rehab. Please feel free to share this post, or forward the information along to anyone you feel might like to help out. The information for the Care Calendar is as follows:http://carecalendar.org/logon/194504 The calendar ID is 194504 and the security code is 8974.

Bethlehem Promise Neighborhood Meeting Information

Congratulations to Jordana Schaeffer, Chris Poczak, and Peter Young for making it into the PMEA District 10 Band Festival at Exeter Township High School!

Congratulations to Cayley Urenko for winning best video in Mrs. Erdman's Journalism class

Congratulations to the Students that made PMEA Districts

The following students made the PMEA District Band: Chris Poczak, Jordana Schaeffer, and Peter Young. The following students made the PMEA District Orchestra: Kelsey Ko, Ryan Bailis, Jordana Schaeffer, and Peter Young. The district band and orchestra are auditioned ensembles taking the best high school musicians in the 7 surrounding counties.

Mr. Griggs Dyes His Beard Blue for BASD MiniTHON's No Shave November Fundraiser

BASD MiniTHON Night at the PPL Center

Bethlehem Tree Lighting November 28th

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Bethlehem Tree Lighting. For the occasion, members of the brass sections from Freedom, Liberty, and Beca will be performing. There will be performances of your favorite Christmas carols beginning at 4:10 p.m. on Friday, November 28th by Bethlehem's Main Branch Library on Church Street. The actual event begins at 4:30 p.m. The world famous Bach Choir of Bethlehem will also be performing, so if you are around Friday, come out and kick off the holiday season with some great music!

Freedom Football Pre-Sale Ticket Information

Come and support Freedom Football as they advance to the District X1 - Semifinal AAAA Playoffs Friday, November 14 at 7 p.m at Cottingham Stadium. Freedom will be playing Easton. Pre-sale tickets will be on sale during these times:-NOVEMBER 10-12, 2014, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.-NOVEMBER 13 – AFTER 1:30 p.m.-NOVEMBER 14, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

November Web Articles

Fight for Kiera Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser

Help "Fight for Kiera" this Wednesday November 5th at Texas Roadhouse from 3-10p.m. Enjoy a meal and the restaurant will donate 10% of your food bill to the Fight For Kiera. You MUST present the attached flyer below to your server to participate.

FHS Football District XI Playoff Presale Tickets

FHS Spirit Week 2014

Photos: Karla Erdman and Hannah Young

Dine-to-Donate Fundraiser for Kiera Pheiffer

The Pheiffer family has arranged two dine-to-donate fundraisers for Kiera to be held at Texas Roadhouse. The first will be held tomorrow, Thursday, October 30th from 3 p.m. - 10 p.m.The second will be next Wednesday, November 5, from 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. In order for 10% of your check to be donated, you must bring the attached flyer below. There will also be items that will be raffled (Freedom themed gift basket, Buffalo Wild Wings bucket with wing sauces/glasses/etc., and gift cards) as well as 50/50.

BASD strips Bonilla of leadership roles due to conflict

Standing up for injustice in Allentown School District forces Director Bonilla to take a step downCaitlin McCaden, News Editor10/8/14

Bethlehem Area School District Director Basilio A. Bonilla Jr. has recently been removed of all leadership positions to the school district as of Sept. 8, 2014 due to an email causing disapproving reactions on a national level. Two years prior to the recent issue revolving around Mr. Bonilla, he requested to become a member of the National Hispanic Council of School Board Member of the NSBA (National School Board Association). In August of 2014, Mr. Bonilla was appointed Regional Director of the Northeast Region.

Traffic around Freedom High School

Students vent about the 3-way outside of Freedom High SchoolMartha Sierocinski, Journalism Student 10/8/14 Most seniors, or those who drive, probably all experienced traffic before and after school around the 3-way intersection on Chester Ave. and Santee Road. Cars coming from Santee Road do not have a stop sign, and a lot of drivers, including high school students, have trouble passing through the intersection because of that issue. “It gets backed up at the stop signs because everyone has to wait until it clears to go. If there was a stop sign, the flow of traffic would be better,” said Kristin Smith, senior. “I dislike it because before school it gets so crowded, which makes us late to school,” said Annu Singh, senior.

2014 Homecoming Pep Rally

Photos: Aeisha Gauba

Rooting for the Underdog

The Kansas City Royals take on the San Francisco Giants in the World SeriesChuck Tichy, Journalism Student10/20/14 As the regular baseball season is coming to a close, the postseason is just beginning.These games are the best teams in the league going head to head. The first game of the 2014 World Series is set to begin on Tue Oct 21. The Kansas City Royals will be taking on the San Francisco Giants. The World Series is a best of seven series. This means that the first team to win four games, wins the series. This is the Giants’ third appearance in the last 5 years. In the 2010 World Series they beat the Texas Rangers. In the 2012 World Series, they beat the Detroit Tigers. This year, they look to take down the Royals. “I would like to see the underdog Royals destroy the powerhouse Giants,” said Danny Knerr, senior.

Ebola virus makes its way to the United States

What are the risks of an outbreak here at home?Elyse Sanford, Web Editor10/7/14 Just as citizens of the United States thought they were safe from the getting the Ebola virus, the unthinkable happened. Thomas Eric Duncan of Texas was diagnosed with the virus after coming back from West Africa. “Duncan traveled from disease-ravaged Liberia to Dallas last month before he began showing symptoms of the disease that has killed some 3,400 people in West Africa,” according to the Huffington Post. So, the question is, how did Duncan come back to the United States with Ebola? The major place of the Ebola outbreak is Western Africa, but because there are several foreign volunteers there currently helping Ebola patients, this also makes them susceptible to getting the disease and brings up the possibility of them bringing the virus back to their country, just like Duncan did.

The college football playoffs

The 4 teams that are looking to impressRoland Cash, Journalism Student10/2/14 College football is back and better than ever. A new system started in the college football world and that is the “College Football Playoffs National Championship Game.” The playoffs will be located in Arlington, Texas at the AT&T Stadium. The top four teams will get a chance to play in the big finale on January 12, 2014. The top four teams currently are: Florida State University, the University of Alabama, the University of Oregon, and the University of Oklahoma. Florida State is coming into the season undefeated and winning the last FBS championship. Florida State is in favor to win it all with the Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. Other people have ideas that an unranked team can beat Florida State in the playoffs.

Freedom football still flying high

The exciting Freedom High School football team remains undefeatedBy: Reggie Rosario, Journalism Student9/28/14

The Freedom High School football team has faced some daunting obstacles throughout this football season, but nonetheless the fighting the Freedom Patriots have continued to remain undefeated so far this year. The Patriots so far have faced quality opponents and dominated them all; Emmaus High School and Allentown Central Catholic are just a few of the Patriots impressive fallen foes. To this point, no matter what barriers the Patriots have faced, the end result still remains the same with a win for the Patriots. “I feel very good about the team right now but there’s always room for improvement; we just have to keep working & keep building.” Said Marquis Stewart, senior.The improvement Stewart is talking about is how the Patriots have not always won their games in the prettiest fashion they always hope for.

New exploration of an old planet

A spacecraft in Mars’ orbit will impact the world of science By: Morgan Johnson, Journalism Student11/1/14

For years, we have wondered about Mars and the mysteries that could be unlocked about the Red Planet. Putting a man on Mars has always been thought to be impossible, but now we are one step closer. A spacecraft from NASA reached Mars and is now in orbit as of Sunday, September 21. A spacecraft from India has also arrived at the planet that following Wednesday, according to CNN. “We have gone beyond the boundaries of human enterprise and human imagination,” said Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister. India is the first nation to have a spacecraft arrive on its first attempt, and the first Asian country to reach the Red Planet, as reported by CNN. This mission costed India $74 million, opposed to the $671 million that NASA had to pay. S. Satish, a space expert based in Bangalore, said the design of the spacecraft was a factor in spending less.Click here to continue to full article

10/6/14

Candlelight Prayer Vigil for Kiera Pheiffer Tonight

Ron Madouse Memorial Event

The Ron Madouse Memorial Event will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2014. Come to the Hokey Legion on October 4th anytime from 12-6 p.m. for beer, food, and laughs. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased at the Legion. Bring friends to remember our good friend Ron. There is going to be a Chinese Auction with some nice baskets, such as Flyers tickets, and a couple other baskets worth at least $150-200 value.

Allison Perno Memorial Fundraiser

Join in for an evening of fun and fitness, in honor of one of BASD's own. Proceeds go to the Allison Perno Scholarship Fund. See the attached flyer below for details.

Baking her way through high school

Tahlia Suggs: The Forum Student of the MonthBy: Gabriella Greenhoward, FHS Forum Sweetie’s Sweet Tooth is the place to go when you are looking for a sweet treat for any occasion. Tahlia Suggs, Junior, has done something very admirable and started her own business while still in high school. “I just started baking with my family and at Church a lady came up [to me] and asked me to make her cupcakes, and from that day on I made business cards and started my own business.”, said Suggs. And just like that her talent was exposed, and a star was brought to light. She was taking this skill that was at first a family thing and sharing it with other people so she could provide them with the happiness derived from the sweet treats she enjoyed at home. “Its very difficult to balance [the business] because when I bake it has to be after school and I have homework but I maintain pretty well.” Being a student and having a business must be extremely tricky. Most people who have business’s spend all day making sure that everything runs smoothly but she does it after school with homework and still produces amazing sweets. When asked about her personal role models she said “My friends and family. Because she has done a lot of baking at home, having a whole bunch of encouragement acts as a support base for her that she can always fall back on. Being an entrepreneur is hard enough when you have all day everyday to work on it but even though her day and time are limited she does what she loves and is good at. She has her pathway after high school all laid out for her and the world isn’t ready for everything she has to bring. For all the aspiring bakers out there take Sugg’s advice and “always strive for excellence, set your standards high and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do anything.”

Photo: Tahlia Suggs

Photo: Tahlia Suggs

A remembrance to last a lifetime: Freedom High School's tribute to September 11

9/11/14By: Elyse Sanford, Web Editor

Although the 9/11 terrorist attacks were 13 years ago today, they will never be forgotten. During the new PATE block, teacher Mr. Joe Stellato, PE and health teacher, gave an educational presentation to juniors talking about his experience during September 11 and the actual facts about what happened that day. Mr. Stellato also stressed the idea that it is very important to teach students about 9/11 because most students do not always completely remember the day because they were too young and sometimes do not do enough research to get a full understanding of what exactly happened. “Most of you were about 3 years old at the time of 9/11,” said Mr. Michael LaPorta, principal, in his opening remarks. Because not all students had a real connection or story of how they were affected by the 9/11 attacks, Mr. Stellato decided it was important to come out and share his story of how he was affected that day and for the rest of his life. “I’m going to give my personal story because I had a roommate in college that died,” said Mr. Stellato. Mr. Stellato was asked by representatives of Freedom’s Republican Patriots Club to give the presentation because they heard about his story. “We had heard that he had an emotional story about his friend and college roommate Marty who had coincidentally been in one of the towers when the plane hit, and that’s why we picked him,” said Josh Christiansen, sophomore and vice president of The Republican Patriots Club. The presentation included several personal photos, facts, and mementos about 9/11. Immediately following the attacks on 9/11, Mr. Stellato went to Ground Zero for 2 days to help find people in the rubble. While there, he saved a piece of steel that was found in the rubble, and kept it as a remembrance of Marty. “I took this from Ground Zero in order to remember Marty,” said Mr. Stellato.

Photo: Anissa Vasquez

Photo: Anissa Vasquez

Bringing The Field Trip to The Classroom

Flame and Mr. Schoeneberger.
Picture: Elyse Sanford

Mr. Schoeneberger, a special education math teacher and a volunteer from The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, gave a wildlife presentation on May 29, 2014 to students at Freedom High School. This presentation was hosted by the Science Department and included appearances by different animals that are ambassadors for the program. The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center is a nonprofit organization that helps injured, baby, and orphaned animals. Schoeneberger has been volunteering since 1994 and says that he never imagined himself helping the wildlife. For more information about The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, visit http://poconowildlife.com/

Full size screech owl named Flame. Picture: Elyse Sanford

The Glass Menagerie Performance

Photo submitted by Jennifer Wescoe

You are all cordially invited to attend excerpts from our student-directed production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie on Thursday, May 29th at 7 p.m. in the FHS Auditorium. This talented group has been in rehearsal since February (all four students simultaneously balanced roles on Crazy For You). Their hard work was recognized as the "Outstanding Student-Directed Production" at the 2014 Bucks County Playhouse Theatre Festival earlier this month. Admission is free, and the performance will last about an hour. Cast members include: Max Kraft, Nikki Slavic, Ellyce Nieves, and Daryl Becker.

Photo submitted by Jennifer Wescoe

Let Freedom ring: bringing home the BELL

May 21, 2014A pep rally was held to welcome the infamous bell back to the halls of Freedom High School. Broughal and East Hills Middle School 8th graders were included in the festivities, as they will be freshmen next school year.During the rally, a competition for next year's mascot was held. Timothy "Timmy" Moyer, junior, won with an overwhelming applause by students.Photos by: Fyniss Frazier and Caitlin McCadden

Freedom High School welcomes incoming freshmen - April 2014

Two seniors sign to their future collegesApril 2014

Two FHS athletes sign onto their future

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), advised by Mr. Michael Dunstan and Mr. Joseph Stellato, meets on Thursday at 6:45 a.m. in Room 209. Members of the group include: Taylor Garza (president), Lauren Garza, Christina DiStefano, Miroslava Sheregi, Antonia Spadafora, Sarah Beth Dunn, Nick Allen, Natalie Rold, and Drew Gugliozza. The club welcomes new members throughout the school year. Students do not have to be athletes in order to attend.